VANCOUVER — When Vancouver Canucks coach Adam Foote tried without much success on Friday to explain why Thatcher Demko could miss back-to-back games on the weekend, the goalie’s issue sounded like more than “maintenance” but less than injury.

Demko was too sore to play and needed a couple of days off. Fine. Not to worry, he would likely be back for Tuesday’s game against the Winnipeg Jets.

And Demko was back. He allowed three goals on eight shots in the first period and was not seen again. Kevin Lankinen played the final two periods for Vancouver, just like he played most of last season, as the Canucks lost 5-3 to end a 1-2-1 homestand.

The limping team now has to travel all the way to the Atlantic to play both Florida teams and the Carolina Hurricanes.

But it could have been worse on

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